Residents Propose Uses for National Grid Land

Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder wants to ensure that residents have a say in the redevelopment of National Grid’s Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) at Beach 108th Street. To do so, he recently submitted the final results of an informal community survey to National Grid.

“Revitalizing this site can create a new economic engine and help push recovery forward for southern Queens and Rockaway,” Goldfeder said. “I strongly urge National Grid to consider some of the ideas in their planning for the site and to continue to engage the community in the process.”

Goldfeder designed the online survey to give residents the opportunity to submit their ideas and proposals to revitalize the MGP site and create better use of the land. Some of the ideas thrown around include a variety of uses from office space, retail stores and parking garages for commuters to more cultural uses, such as a museum, entertainment arena or education institute.

“This location is ideal for a central ferry terminal hub serving Rockaway, JFK and Sheepshead Bay with direct service to New York City,” Hank Iori, president of the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association said. “The terminal itself could be designed as a floating terminal moored to a revamped bay wall. The main land mass should be used for ferry parking and for the mayor’s planned Science and Resilience Institute which is to be led by New York University. This structure would also house meeting space and an environmental educational center for our community.”

“I want to ensure every resident has a voice in the redevelopment of our community,” Goldfeder said. “I hope this will be only the first step of involving residents in the planning to help revitalize our neighborhood and rebuild Rockaway stronger than before.”

If you want to create a new economic engine and help push recovery forward as the Assemblymen says, you need either retail or entertainment. Something that both serves and excites the community and near by communities.

a Rockaway Culture Mall!... hey, for the site how about a movie theatre, a legit theatre (for the Rockaway Theatre Group); art space (for the Rockaway Artists Alliance); a Rotunda for outdoor entertainment, and shops & restaurants all blended into a Rockaway Culture Mall...PJS